Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells



"March 24, 1925. 1,530,960

. H; K. V. TOMPKINS CASING HANDLING AND SUSPENDING APPARATUS FOR WELLS Filed Dec. 1., 1921 2 Sheets-She et 1' I gwuc'n toz wa -M March 24, 1925. 1,530,960

H. K. V. TOMPKINS CASING HANDLINQAND SUSPENDING APPARATUS FOR WELLS Filed Dec.1, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i=1 atented Mar. 24, 1925.

STATES O FI'CE.

HARRY x. v. romrxms, or 'rAMrIco, MEXICO.

Application m December 1, 1921. Serial No. 519,142.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that'l, HARRY -K. V. Tolvrr- Knvs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tampico, in the Republic of Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casing Handling and Suspending Apparatus for Wells, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells and it comprises in general a split or segmental ring or sleeve with its lower end resting on an outer shell or nipple, such shell or nipple so designed and constructed that it'can be mounted on the casing of the well being drilled while suitable-valves, pipes or other apparatus desired, may be mounted on the upper end, the splitor segmental sleeve being provided with means for opening and closing it and having an interior diameter at' the top when in closed position larger than the exterior diameterof casings to be suspended or lowered but smaller than a collar or nipple used for uniting ends of casings to be lowered, whereby the lower edge of the collar or nipple may rest on the top of the split or segmental ring or sleeve and where-.

by when the ring or sleeve is opened the collar with attached casings may be lowered or raised through the sleeve and in the well; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed. a The invention primarily relates to apparatus to be used on the casing ofthe wellbeing drilled and it is particularly useful in the drilling of oil or gas wells.

Among other objects of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which will .prevent leakage of fluid, gas or vapors past the casing being set, the provision of an ap-. paratus simple in construction and operation and so designed that one or more joints of the casing may be removed or lowered or additional casing added readily and with a saving of time and labor? Other objects ofthe invention will hereinafter appear.

in the accompanying drawings showing one form of a specific embodiment of my invention, and in the several views of which similar numerals designate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through my casing handling and suspending apparatus, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in section the casing (the casing not shown) of the well being drilled. The upper end of this shell has outwardly flaring upper portion 2 and the straight top 3 provided with exterior.

threads. A similarly shaped shell 4 having interior screw threads at its lower end is attached to the first shell and is provided at its top with screw threads for the attachment of a gate valve, pipe or other apparatus usually used and as may be desired.

The flaring portion 2 of the lower shell has a smooth interior wall as at 5 which may be ground for the purpose of making a tight joint with the bottom of the split sleeve to be hereinafter described.-

The split sleeve 6 may be made in parts each of which comprises a curved section of metal having the preferably integral outwardly and downwardly extending flanges 7 slotted at 8 for the purpose of receiving and retaining the heads of the bolts 9. Each one of these bolts (.3 being shown) is threaded through the upper portion of the lowershell as at 10 ahd each is provided with a square head 9' by means of which it may be drawn outwardly or forced inwardly with respect to the shell and by means of which it may move a segmentof the split sleeve either direction as the case may be. Nut 11 looks bolt '9 in any position desired.

Each section of the split sleeve is prothree vided at its bottom with the beveled face '12 ground so as to make a tight joint with the side 5 of the shell, and at-their upper ends each of the segments of the sleeve 6 is pro ed to make a tight joint with a complementary face on the collar to be hereinafter de- 1 vided with the ground beveled face 13 adapti means of the bolts 16. The outer periphery of the ring may extend slightly beyond the flange and the upper portion of the lower shell may be provided with a shoulder 17 in order that the ring may be supported and trued in the shell. The interior of this ring 14 is not a true circle, it'being provided with the 3 inset portions 18 corresponding in contour to the outer surfaces of the segments of the split ring or sleeve 6. And since it is desirable to hold rigidly the upper portion of the segments against the interior of the ring 14. when the segments are expanded or opened, the interior face of the ring is beveled slightly as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 (this being a bottom plan view). This ring 14 is of sufficient internal diameter to permit the expansion of thesegments of the sleeve a suflicient distance to allow the collar and the casing to be raised or lowered therethrough.

The casing'lf) to be lowered or raised in the well is screw threaded at its upper end and is supported by screw threaded collar 20 having at its lower end a beveled face 21 complementary to the face 13 of the segments of the split sleeve so that a tight joint is made at this point. When the split sleeve is in closed position its internal diameter at the top is less than the external diameter of the collar 20, while the external diameter of the casing 19 to be lowered or raised, or indeed suspended in the well, is slightly'less than the internal diameter of the closed split sleeve. This construction permits suspending the casing 19 in the well by means of the collar 20 having its face 21 resting on the face 1-3 of the split sleeve. The collar hasreverse threads at its upper end; The split sleeve may be opened a sufiicient distance to permit the collar 20 to pass through.

A tight joint is made between the seat 5 of the lower shell and the beveled end 12 of the split sleeve and a tight joint is made between the beveled face 13 of split sleeve at the top and the beveled face 21 of the collar at the bottom so that in closed position,

there is no leakage of fluid, gas, or vapors from the well around the casing or otherwise. l/Vhen the split sleeve is opened or expanded through turning the bolt 9, the lower end 12 of each segment rocks, so to speak,

upon a seat 5 in the lower shell but does not move totally away therefrom.

The'operation of the apparatus is obvious from foregoing description. It may be used as, a well casing head near the ground to hold the inner casing while sections are being connected or detached. The casing in the well may be raised or lowered while a tight joint-is maintained between the split sleeve and the lower shell 5 and that while the casing is suspended in the well there is no opportunity for leakage of-fiuid,- gases or vapors. Also the casing can be lowered ering a casing with the use of my appa ratus to remove any parts. It 1s only necessary to suspendflthe casing to be lowered, open the segments of the split sleeve, lower the casing until the collar rests above the top of the split sleeve, close the split sleeve, and allow the bottom of the collar to rest on the top of the split ring. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. The split sleeve may be made in any number of seg-. ments, three being shown for the purpose of illustration. I deem it advisable to make all the parts of steel. The apparatus is selfcontained and easily installed and capable of withstanding the most severe conditions continually without depreciation. By the use of this apparatus the well may be drilled positively and with safety while the casing which is to be used is suspended in the hole.

The split sleeve constitutes means for sup porting the collar and the plurality of sections of the split sleeve form a tube when the parts are in closed position, such tube tapering outwardly in a downward direction. When closed this sleeve is circular in cross section.

What I claim is -1. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a chamber with means at its lower end for attachment to the casing of a well, a supporting split sleeve substantially circular in cross section in the chamber having its lower end resting on i the wall of the chamber and means for opening and closing said split sleeve, a collar for supporting casings to be raised or lowered in the well, said collar having an external diameter greater than the lnternal diameter of the top of the split sleeve when closed,

and a casing of less external diameter than the closed sleeve, said casing supported by the collar.

2. Casing handling and suspending ap and means for opening and closing said split 7 sleeve, a collar for supporting casings to be raised or lowered in the well, said collar having an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the top of the split sleeve when closed, and a casing of less external diameter than the closed sleeve joint,

I said casing supported by the collar.

3. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a chamber with means at its lower end for attachment to the casing of a well, a supporting fluid tight split sleeve substantially circular in cross section in the chamber having a lower beveled end resting on the wall of the chamber and means for opening and closing said split sleeve, a collar for supporting casin s to be raised or lowered in the well, said collar having an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the top of the split sleeve when closed, and a casing of less external diameter than the closed sleeve supported by the collar.

4. Casing handling and suspending'appa-ratus for wells, comprising achamber with means at its lower end for attachment to the casing of awell, a supporting fluid tight split sleeve in the chamber having its lower end resting on the wall of the chamber and having a beveled upper end, means for opening and closing the split sleeve, a collar for supporting the casing to be raised or lowered in the well, said collar having its lower end rovided with a face adapted to engage the eveled end of the split sleeve. and having an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the top of the ,split sleeve when closed and a casing of less diameter than t e closed sleeve supported by the collar.

5. ing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a chamber with means at its lower end for attachment to thecasing of a well, a split sleeve-in the chamber having its lower end resting on the wall of the chamber, each of the split sections of said sleeve having means for engagement of a bolt, a bolt in engagement with said means and extending through the w'all ofthe chamber, and means for operating the bolt to open or close the said split sleeve, acollar for supporting casings to be raised and lowered in the well and a casing secured to said collar.

6. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a chamber with means at its lower end for attachment to the casingof a well, a split sleeve in the chamber having its lower end resting on the wall of the, chamber and said split sleeve comprising a plurality of sections each provided on its outer face with a downwardly extending slotted flange, a headed bolt having, its stem extending through the slot of -the'said flange and being threaded through the wall of said chamber, and means for -opcrating said bolts whereby the splltsleeve may be opened and closed," and a collar" adapted to hold the casings having its; lower edge resting on the upper'edge of the said split sleeve when closed.

7. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a chamber proward movement of the sections of said split sleeve, anda collar having its lower end resting on the top of said split sleeve when in closed position. v

8. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a. chamber with means at its lower end for attachment to the casing of a well, a supporting split sleeve in the chamber having its lower end resting on the wall of the chamber and means for opening and closmg sald split sleeve, a screw threaded collar for supporting. casings to be raised 'or lowered in the well, said collar having an external diameter greater than 1 the internal diameter of the top of the split sleeve when closed, and a casing of less external diameter than the closed sleeve supported by the collar. 9. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a chamber with means at its lower end for attachment to the casing of a well, collar supporting means in said chamber comprising a plurality of sections arranged to.be opened or closed and when in closed position being circular in cross-section, a collar having its lower end supported by the top of said collar sup port when in closed position, and a casing.

supported by said collar in said collar supportin means. 1 1

10. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells, comprising a shell having means at its lower end for attachment to the casing of a well and having outwardly flaring side walls and having means at its upper end for attachment of an e'nclbsing shell, (a second or enclosing shell secured to the first shell at the top thereof and having means at its top for attachment of well equipment apparatus, the two shellsin assembled position forming a chamber, a split sleeve having its lower end resting on the flared wall of the first shell and provided with means for opening and closing the several part-s thereof, the interior diameter of the said sleeve whelrin closed position being larger than the exterior diameter of casings to be suspended or lowered, a casing to be suspended or lowered through the sleeve and a collar on the casing of exterior diameter larger than the interior diameter of the sleeve when closed, whereby the collar may support the casing inside the sleeve when the sleeve is closed and whereby the collar with the casing may be lowered through the sleeve and thus down into the well when the sleeve is opened.

11. Casing handling apparatus comprising a chamber arranged to be attached to the casing of a well, a sectional support in said chamber for casing holding means, casing holding means supported on said support and means extending through the wall of the chamber for spreading the sections of said support to allow the casing holding means to pass therethrough.

l2. Casing handling apparatus comprising a chamber arranged to be attached to the casing of; a well, a sectional support in said chamber for easing holding means, casing holding means supported on said support, means extending through the wall of the chamber for spreading the sections of said support to allow the casing holding n'ieans to pass therethrough and means in the ehamberencircling said sectional support and limiting the outward movement of its sections.

l3. Casing handling and suspending apparatus for wells comprising a chamber arranged to be attached to the casing of a well,

said chamber having inclined interior walls ground to a true surface, a sectional support for easing carrying means in said chamber, the lower ends of the sections having ground surfaces adapted to engage and make "a tight joint with the ground interior walls of said chamber, casing carrying means supported on said sectional support and means for spreading the sections of said support apart to allow the casing carrying means to pass therethrough, the ground lower end of the said sections of the support and the ground interior walls of the 'said chamber making a tight joint when the said sections are in their spread or closed In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HARRY K. V. TOMPKINS. 

